A Mesa man had a weekend to remember with seven of his friends in the heart of Las Vegas thanks to online sports betting in Arizona.
Derek Hamm, 31, was the winner of WynnBET Arizona’s VIP experience giveaway.
As part of the giveaway, Hamm, who had never flown in an airplane, flew to Sin City alongside seven others to take in Sunday night’s Las Vegas Raiders-Kansas City Chiefs game from the Wynn Field Club at Allegiant Stadium.
Hamm and his travel companions also received a two-night stay at the Wynn Las Vegas, rounding out a weekend the Pete’s Fish & Chips store manager won’t soon forget.
A Weekend Unlike Any Other
The East Valley native won the WynnBET sweepstakes by depositing at least $25 during the company’s pre-registration period, which began Aug. 31 and ran through the Arizona betting apps launch date on Sept. 9.
“I deposited $200 when sports betting became legal in Arizona, just because I wanted to try (WynnBET’s mobile application) out,” Hamm said. “So, I downloaded the app, I placed the wager. And then basically a month later, I got a call saying that I won, and it was pretty awesome.”
Hamm said he and his entourage arrived at Vegas’ McCarran International Airport on Sunday morning, kicking off a weekend full of memorable experiences.
He made sure to invite a lifelong Chiefs fan to the festivities, making Sunday night’s 41-14 win by Kansas City even more enjoyable for the group.
“We got in on Sunday morning, and my whole crew was stoked about going to Sunday Night Football,” Hamm said. “We got in and kind of relaxed a little bit. Then we went to the game, and it was just unreal. You could almost touch the field. You’re on the ground, and it was just amazing.”
Importance of Having Sports Betting in Arizona
Hamm said he makes the 300-plus-mile trek from Mesa to the Strip multiple times a year to compete in bowling tournaments.
Those trips allowed Hamm to get into wagering on sporting events, giving him insight into the importance of having sports betting in his home state. He said his experience with the Arizona sports betting marketplace has been overwhelmingly positive so far.
The market has been buoyed by Arizona NFL betting and the Cardinals’ 8-2 start. The strength of the state’s first month of legal sports betting will be known Nov. 29 when the Arizona Department of Gaming announces September’s event wagering report.
“It’s huge,” Hamm said of having sports betting legalized in Arizona. “It’s very convenient because you just do it from your phone. So, it’s awesome. It seems like everybody’s loving (sports betting) in Arizona, that’s what everyone’s talking about.”
A Once in a Lifetime Experience
All in all, Hamm said his trip to Las Vegas was one he won’t soon forget, speaking to the importance of savoring life’s unexpected treasures.
He said the WynnBET VIP Giveaway allowed his inner circle to experience something few ever will.
“When we walked into the room (at the Wynn Las Vegas), it kind of took my breath away,” Hamm said. “Just the view of the golf course and everything beyond it, it was just a once in a lifetime experience.”
